Mayor of Wealthy DC Suburb Traded Meth for Sex: Cops

The mayor of Fairfax, Va., is not having a good couple of years. Richard "Scott" Silverthorne, 50, was laid off from his job with the National Association of Manufacturers in June of last year; his house was foreclosed on months later; he was diagnosed with cancer; and then, on Thursday, he was arrested for allegedly trading meth for sex. Police received a tip three weeks ago that Silverthorne, who is in his third term as mayor and was also a substitute public school teacher, was using a website on which men can arrange to have casual sex, and that Silverthorne was exchanging meth for that sex. An undercover officer created a profile on that site meant to appeal to Silverthorne, and they arranged to meet Thursday at a hotel for "a group sexual encounter," USA Today reports.

Silverthorne was arrested after allegedly giving meth to the undercover officers he met there. Two other men, the mayor's alleged suppliers, were also arrested outside the hotel. Authorities believe he had engaged in a "meth-for-sex" arrangement at least twice before. Fairfax is a wealthy DC suburb located in one of the richest counties in the nation, and Silverthorne's bio on the city's website notes that he is "a champion for quality of life issues." Silverthorne talked about his "terrible year" in January with the Washington Post, and the newspaper noted at the time that constituents were already wondering whether he should step down as mayor to focus on his financial and health issues. Some good news for Silverthorne: His cancer is in remission. (More Virginia stories.)